Fassel upset over stories concerning dinner fight

ALBANY--While Brandon Short and Jeremy Shockey tried to downplay the altercation the two had in the dining hall Tuesday night, New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel took issue with how some in the media portrayed the story.

JAMES ALLEN

Published
12:00 am EDT, Friday, August 2, 2002

At the end of his Thursday morning gathering with reporters at the University at Albany, Fassel voiced his displeasure at how some of the articles he read.

He took particular exception to a few stories stating Fassel as being, "OK" with the fact Short and Shockey got into the tussle.

"It's not the case," Fassel sternly stated.

Fassel did say Wednesday that he likes his players to have a level of feistiness, but the veteran mentor took exception to the analogy he condoned Short and Shockey fighting in the dining hall Tuesday night.

For their part, Short and Shockey -- without getting to specifics -- downplayed the incident.

Fassel has told players and coaches not to discuss the fight with the media.

"You guys (the media)make a big deal out of things that aren't really a big deal," said Short, a third-year linebacker.

"It was nothing really," Shockey said. "It's just something that never should have happened."

Shockey, a tight end who was the Giants' No. 1 selection this season, was asked about what exactly happened in the incident and he replied 'I don't want to talk about it.' "

The next two questions, however, were essentially the same -- just worded differently.

Shockey had a look of astonishment after attempt No. 3. After looking away for a second, Shockey repeated, "I don't want to talk about it."

Shockey also got a bit annoyed when a reporter alluded to the fight having some effect on him being a team leader.

"I haven't been here very long. I don't think I'm a leader," Shockey said. "When I was at Miami, I was there a few years and I knew the system. Here, (quarterback) Kerry Collins is a leader."

Collins prepared to be team leader: With the departures of veterans like Glenn Parker, Lomas Brown and Jesse Armstead, Collins believes his role as a team leader has expanded this season.

"I know guys looked to guys like Glenn, Lomas and Jesse for leadership. I think they'll be looking at me even more now this year," Collins said. "I welcome that kind of role. I'm more than willing to accept a bib, big leadership role."

Collins admits he wasn't prepared being a team leader when he was a member of the Carolina Panthers.

"It takes time. There is a certain sense of maturity," Collins said. "I'm 29, going into my 30's. (In Carolina), it's like being a CEO at 22. I wasn't ready for that."

Collins sees a number of factors besides the departure of others and his age as contributing to stepping into a more profound leadership role.

First, he signed a contract extension with the Giants.

"To have security in the organization is key. My leadership role would have been compromised (without a contract extension)," Collins said. "I would have been a lame-duck quarterback."

Collins added he's a better communicator and also feels much more comfortable in the team's offensive scheme.

Get Carter?: Another thing drawing the ire of Fassel Thursday morning came when rookie receiver Tim Carter got wiped out by rookie safety Ryan Clark--in a non-contact drill.

Carter went up a ball on the sideline when Clark crashed into him hard. Carter landed awkwardly.

"Young guys come in trying to prove their toughness. You won't prove toughness to me without pads," Fassel said.

In the afternoon practice, second-year receiver Jonathan Carter went down briefly after a collision on a running play with Ron Dayne.

Head for the hills: The afternoon practice was cut short approximately 15 minutes early by Fassel after lightning strikes could be seen in the area.

Marcin gets in a zinger: As the players scrambled toward the locker room as the lightning and rain ended the afternoon practice, line coach Denny Marcin talked with defensive end Michael Strahan regarding the progress the team is making this week.

With Giants playing in the Hall of Fame Game Monday, Marcin went over the schedule for the next few days and said to Strahan, "You better get your rest, you're playing a half (Monday).

Strahan laughed and found other members of the media were laughing too.

"Denny, even they laughed," Strahan said.

WFAN host returns home: Jody McDonald, who co-hosted a radio show Thursday morning for WFAN (660 AM) in New York from camp, is a 1983 graduate of the University at Albany and played on the JV basketball team.

McDonald broke his ankle, which he said "began my career in journalism."

He worked for WCDB (90.9 FM), the campus radio station, before getting an internship at WGY Radio (810 AM) and WRGB (TV 6).